Entering the Covenant

[Maria Billingsley]

"Covenant of Works"

This covenant is long gone when Adam and Eve broke it. It no longer exists as God pulled Adam and Eve out of Eden and cursed them and their decedents for their disobedience. We now live as believers in the "new covenant" through Jesus Christ of Nazareth as He alone defeated death on our behalf.

15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

 

[Jonaitis]

So Abraham did not receive the benefits of Christ? Nor Moses or Elijah? How is it that Moses and Elijah were not cast into hell upon their deaths and were able to appear in the presence of Christ at his transfiguration?

The promise was progressively revealed to Adam, Noah, Abraham, and all others who savingly believed in it, up until the "fullness of time" when Christ really accomplished and inaugurated that covenant. They were saved retroactively, looking forward as we do looking back.

"For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." - John 1:17

 

[Jonaitis]

By being faithful to God via the Mosaic covenant.

The Mosaic Covenant dealt with Canaan, not heaven. It was the laws of the Israel's statehood and tenure in the promise land. It had nothing to do with eternal salvation (although it pointed to Christ).

 

[Dave-W]

The Mosaic Covenant dealt with Canaan, not heaven. It was the laws of the Israel's statehood and tenure in the promise land. It had nothing to do with eternal salvation (although it pointed to Christ).

Another popular Christianized theory. But this one is entirely wrong.

 

[Jonaitis]

Another popular Christianized theory. But this one is entirely wrong.

You're saying that the OT saints were saved by a works based system, that's false.

"What shall we say, then? The Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone..." - Romans 9:30-32

The Mosaic system dealt with the temporal enjoyment of Palestine. Some good places to look is Deuteronomy 28, besides the rest that clearly place tenure in the land and enjoyment of the nation.

 

[Dave-W]

You're saying that the OT saints were saved by a works based system, that's false.

Not what I am saying. They were saved by COVENANT, Not works.

 

[Jonaitis]

Not what I am saying. They were saved by COVENANT, Not works.

Please read Hebrews 10:1-18

And, their covenant required works...

 

[New Birth]

Nonbelievers are not apart of the Covenant of Grace. One must have faith in Jesus and be born again of water and the Spirit, this is the entrance into the covenant. You see Jews and Gentiles entering into the covenant in the book of Acts.
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
The scripture teaches Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. One must have faith in God to be in the covenant with God.
Romans 8:9 ....now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his.

I think an important question would be What is the new covenant? What must one do to enter the New Covenant? I believe it will be very clear that it is impossible for an unbeliever to enter into the New Covenant while in a state of unbelief.

 

[ewq1938]

Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

 

[Dave-W]

And, their covenant required works...

So the Pharisees taught. What makes you think they got it right?

 

[Jonaitis]

So the Pharisees taught. What makes you think they got it right?

Did you read Hebrews 10:1-18?

 

[Dave-W]

Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

Not talking about salvation, but a truly GODLY life.

 

[ewq1938]

Not talking about salvation, but a truly GODLY life.

Christ is talking about eternal life.

 

[Dave-W]

I think an important question would be What is the new covenant? What must one do to enter the New Covenant? I believe it will be very clear that it is impossible for an unbeliever to enter into the New Covenant while in a state of unbelief.

Mark 16.15And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16“He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

Acts 2.38And Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39“For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself.” 40And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!”

Romans 10.9that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; 10for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

That is how you access the New Covenant.

 

[Dave-W]

Did you read Hebrews 10:1-18?

yes

There is nothing in there that says it was about works. In fact, it talks about the futility of works.

 

[New Birth]

Mark 16.15And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16“He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

Acts 2.38And Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39“For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself.” 40And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!”

Romans 10.9that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; 10for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

That is how you access the New Covenant.

Exactly right so the answer should be obvious as to whether or not unbelievers are apart of the new covenant.

 

[Tree of Life]

The promise was progressively revealed to Adam, Noah, Abraham, and all others who savingly believed in it, up until the "fullness of time" when Christ really accomplished and inaugurated that covenant. They were saved retroactively, looking forward as we do looking back.

"For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." - John 1:17

I don't disagree with this at all. What's your problem with the way that Westminster puts it?

V. This covenant was differently administered in the time of the law, and in the time of the Gospel:[9] under the law it was administered by promises, prophecies, sacrifices, circumcision, the paschal lamb, and other types and ordinances delivered to the people of the Jews, all foresignifying Christ to come;[10] which were, for that time, sufficient and efficacious, through the operation of the Spirit, to instruct and build up the elect in faith in the promised Messiah,[11] by whom they had full remission of sins, and eternal salvation; and is called the Old Testament.[12]

VI. Under the Gospel, when Christ, the substance,[13] was exhibited, the ordinances in which this covenant is dispensed are the preaching of the Word, and the administration of the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper:[14] which, though fewer in number, and administered with more simplicity, and less outward glory, yet, in them, it is held forth in more fullness, evidence, and spiritual efficacy,[15] to all nations, both Jews and Gentiles;[16] and is called the New Testament.[17] There are not therefore two covenants of grace, differing in substance, but one and the same, under various dispensations.[18]

 

[Dave-W]

Exactly right so the answer should be obvious as to whether or not unbelievers are apart of the new covenant.

As I said in post #2 - ONLY believers.

 

[Tree of Life]

As I said in post #2 - ONLY believers.

Why does Jesus say that there are those "in him" who will not bear fruit? (John 15)

 

[Dave-W]

Why does Jesus say that there are those "in him" who will not bear fruit? (John 15)

But to be "in him" requires faith.
It is because they got stunted in their growth for some reason.

MOST of the NT is not about how to get saved/enter the New Covenant; rather it is about how to live AFTER salvation.